Bengalis in North Delhi area have a reason to be more jubilant over Durga Puja celebrations as this time it’s not just about offering prayers and gorging on food, but the pandal will reach new heights in grandeur marking the centenary celebrations for the Timarpur and Civil lines Puja Samiti (TPClPS).
On its glorious 100th anniversary, the Puja Samiti — established in 1914 — has decided to dedicate the celebration to the century of Indian cinema and provide a visual treat for the eyes. Preparations are in full swing to make the five nights of festivity an unforgettable experience for the devotees and Navratri revellers. The organisers said that this time, the focus is not just on Bengali culture, but a mix of Indian cultures. Cultural programmes will be held to showcase diverse cultures.
Timarpur and Civil lines Puja Samiti was formally established in 1914 after the shifting of the Capital of India from Kolkata to Delhi. The area had a considerable population of Indians serving in the then British Government.
Moving to Kolkata to celebrate the Durga Puja was always not viable for the babus and with the then Secretariat close by, it was therefore, logical for the first few volunteers and officebearers to gather and form a Puja Samiti to celebrate Sharodutsav, the worship of Goddess Durga and the victory of good over evil.
Expressing exhilaration over the grand Puja which will be a five-day affair starting from October 9 to 13, President of the Samiti, Samit Kumar Brahmo said, “It is the first-of-its-kind Durga Puja and will be theme-based. Since the Samity has completed 100 years of celebrations, we have invested 100 per cent effort. We are sure visitors would have never seen such grandeur before.”
During the last 99 years, on several occasions, the Puja Samiti passed through hard phases of financial and administrative crises, mainly due to lack of funds and active human resources. On several occasions, conditions became so precarious that the puja was on the verge of a premature end. But that was then.
“In a tribute to Indian cinema, we have decided that the pandal will be modelled after Mumbai’s famous theatre Elphinstone. Visitors will be welcomed with portraits of the great filmmaker Satyajit Ray along with poet and artist Rabindranath Tagore. There will be a lineup of film posters inside the pandal, including non-Bengali cinema,” said Anand Shankar Sengupta, Vice President, TPClPS.
The theme will also pay tribute to the poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore, marking the 100th anniversary of his Nobel Prize in literature, by presenting cultural programmes based on his writings.
“A dance drama based on Tagore’s Chitrangada will take place on the final day. There will be song and dance recitals everyday by various artistes from diverse cultures,” said Sukhangshu Chatterjee, theatre personality and Cultural Secretary, TPClPS, adding there will be a lot more visitors can look forward to. Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner and Bengali veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee too has been roped in.
The most significant aspect of the Puja is the pratima or idol of Goddess Durga, which is said to be the highlight of the event.To make sure that the clay idols of Goddess Durga slaying Mahisasura, along with those of Goddess lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are classy and magnificent, the work has been entrusted to a renowned karigar.
“Earlier pratimas were brought from Kolkata but now artists create grand structures in the Capital itself. It is a special celebration. Hence, the pratima has to be magnificent. We have entrusted it to renowned artist Salil Bhattacharya. The pratimas will be bigger and better,” said Sengupta on the idols to be placed on a specially erected platform.